Building a Better World Through Business

Pitch Competition Entry Process

Undergraduate and graduate students from all schools and disciplines are invited to submit proposals for the “Rising to the Challenge: Ideas to Help Build a Better Baltimore” poster and pitch competition on March 22 from 6 - 8 p.m. Students are asked to submit proposals responding to the challenge question, "How might Loyola students apply their talents and education to create initiatives, ventures or products designed to benefit and contribute to Baltimore's growth?" Prize money will be awarded to the top three pitches - $1500, $1000, $500. Students can enter the competition individually or form teams (up to four students).

Students participating in the pitch competition are encouraged to attend two workshops to receive training and guidance from faculty and professionals as to how to come up with an idea, how to prepare a poster that captures an idea and proposed solution, and how to successfully pitch/communicate your idea.

FAQ

How do I come up with an idea for my proposal?

First, identify a challenge. If you need help identifying a challenge, please view our list of reports on Baltimore and additional resources. The reports cover challenges including economic and workforce development, education, poverty, drugs, inequality, criminal justice system, prisoner re-entry program, homelessness, healthcare delivery, innovation, and more. Then talk to friends, form a team (between two and four Loyola students—undergraduate or graduate). Bring your team to an upcoming resource workshop (see dates/time below) and receive support from faculty.

At the workshop you will learn how to:

research challenges

identify compelling need

think through an innovative idea

brainstorm solutions

implement your idea

capture your idea on a poster

pitch your idea

What is the proposal criteria?

Proposals should respond to the challenge question: How might Loyola students apply their talents and education to create initiatives, ventures or products designed to benefit and contribute to Baltimore's growth?

The survey you will use to submit your proposal is designed to learn more about your idea. It asks you to respond to the following (each response can be no longer than 150 words):

Can't attend a resource workshop in person?

When is the proposal due?

How do I submit a proposal?

What happens after the proposal is submitted? Tell me more about the structure of the competition.

By March 9, 2018, individual presenters or team leaders will hear from the proposal review committee regarding whether the proposal was accepted. If your proposal was accepted, you will be provided information on the poster requirements and the judgment criteria (the rubric that judges will be using) for the pitch competition on March 22, 2018.

Each individual or team will then create a poster displaying the team's idea and the information included in the proposal. This poster portion of the competition will create a dynamic similar to a science fair. The poster should be no larger than 4x4. We are working with Central Printing on-campus—the costs of the posters will be covered by the university. More information forthcoming.

During the event, each individual or team will stand by their poster and present it to those that come by—students, faculty, alumni, friends of the Loyola community, and, of course the judges.

Five pitches will be selected by the judges to move on to the final round.

In the final round, the five teams chosen will each have no more than three minutes to pitch their idea and solution to the judges and the audience. Judges will then have no more than ten minutes to ask the team questions about their pitch.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three pitches: 1st Prize – $1,500, 2nd Prize – $1,000, and 3rd Prize – $500.